What were the key events in the life of Jesus Christ?

Five events stand out like great mountain peaks in connection with our Lord Jesus Christ. They are His Incarnation, His Death, His Resurrection, His Ascension, involving His present activities on High, and His Coming again. They stand related to each other, and the one follows the other of necessity.

The pre-incarnate glory of our Lord Jesus Christ The incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ The baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ The temptation of our Lord Jesus Christ The transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ The crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ The burial of our Lord Jesus Christ The resurrection from amongst the dead of our Lord Jesus Christ The ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ and His taking the seat in unchallenged supremacy at the right hand of the majesty on high The second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ

The Christ, — born of a virgin, and growing up, and seen to have been in retirement from youth till about thirty years of age; in testimony and teachings, and in all the beauteous ways of His own, amid the activities of His life here below; on the cross, in His marvellous death, and buried in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea; but who burst the grave and came forth leading captivity captive, — is the Christ whom I commend to you. That Person first in those circumstances of humiliation. Yes, but stop not thou in those circumstances, He is not there now — the mosque of Mahomet has supplanted in that land the temple of Jehovah. Nor is He still lingering on earth as He once did forty days, to show that He marked well the state of all things in the beloved city, and to counsel and cheer His apostles: for whom when He was risen from among the dead, He yet lingered forty days, but then ascended, while they saw Him go up; and after that (Phil. 2:6-11) He took His seat on high. Mark the "wherefore" of verse 9, obedient unto death, even the death of the cross, "wherefore" God also has highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus (which was His name as known among men) every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and on earth, and infernal: and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father!

There is, however, what comes home to us in a nearer way perhaps the birth of the holy Babe (whom it was Simeon's joy to confess as "Thy salvation," for that Babe was Emmanuel, God with us!) In lowly guise and garb was He to be a sign to Bethlehem's shepherds, even the One concerning whom the angel of the Lord spake to them these wonderful words, "Unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour which is Christ the Lord." Further, "Ye shall find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger"! What depths of lowliness and heights of majesty do these words unfold! Do we wonder that "Suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good pleasure in men" (Luke 2). "And the child grew and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon him." "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man." "He went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him." Of all that Jesus did, both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, were the apostles witnesses. Coming to His own [possessions] His own [people] received Him not, but slew Him and hanged Him on a tree. Nevertheless, God raised Him up the third day and showed Him openly, before He was received up into heaven. Moreover, when He had by Himself purged our sins, He sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.

On earth He appears, born in Bethlehem—come, as to the flesh, of the royal line of David. He was legally the true Messiah as the genealogy of Matthew 1, shows clearly. As a child He was subject to His parents; but being about thirty years of age He was baptised of John, and was anointed by the Holy Spirit for the public service of God in Israel. Tempted too, of Satan, He came forth victorious to set men at liberty, to bring them into blessing for the glory of God. Were there any blind by the way? Not one need remain blind when the Messiah was there! Were any dumb? He gave them speech! Did the deaf seek Him? He gave them hearing! He went about healing all manner of diseases, preaching the Kingdom of God, and expounding doctrines which even the best scholars of the present day have to acknowledge outstrip their highest thoughts. Even in this so-called advanced twentieth century His teaching excels all.

Begotten by the power of the Holy Ghost, He was born of the Virgin Mary, as predicted in Isa. 7:14. The details of this wonderful event are given in the gospels of Matthew and Luke. The former gospel records the accomplishment of the prophetic word that God would be present with His people, signified by the name Immanuel, 'God with us.' The latter, that the babe born of Mary was 'that Holy thing,' called "the Son of God." For thirty years He led a life of lowly retirement, but the references of scripture to this period show that He grew up under the eye of God in the perfection of manhood, and yet in conscious Sonship to the Father, the vessel of the grace and wisdom of God.

The Birth of Christ at Bethlehem 1-72. The Glad Tidings Announced to the Shepherds. 8-203. The Circumcision and Presentation 21-244. Simeon and His Prophecy 25-355. Anna the Prophetess 36-386. In Nazareth 39-407. In the Temple 41-518. The Increase 52.

Some poor men who were faithfully performing their toilsome labours, afar from the restless activity of an ambitious and sinful world, receive the first tidings of the Lord's presence on earth. The God of Israel did not seek for the great among His people, but had respect to the poor of the flock. Two things here present themselves. The angel who comes to the shepherds of Judea announces to them the fulfilment of the promises of God to Israel. The choir of angels celebrate in their heavenly chorus of praise all the real import of this wondrous event. "Unto you," says the heavenly messenger who visits the poor shepherds, "is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." This was proclaiming good tidings to them and to all the people.

City of Judah, also called BETH-LEHEM-JUDAH (Judges 17:7-9). It is first mentioned in connection with the death and burial of Rachel. Gen. 35:19. The history of Ruth is also connected with Beth-lehem. Ruth 1:1-22; Ruth 2:4. David was anointed in the house of Jesse the Bethlehemite, so that apparently it was the place of David's birth, 1 Sam. 16:4; 1 Sam. 17:12, 15; and this accounts for its being called in Luke 2:11 the 'city of David.' It was also the birth-place of Jesus: though it was "little among the thousands of Judah," it the better agreed with His humiliation. Beth-lehem, signifying 'house of bread,' is a very appropriate name for a place whence the Saviour should proceed as a man — He who was the living bread that came down from heaven.

"A Saviour, Christ the Lord." Thus was He described. A Saviour was born. Of grace that spoke. "Christ the Lord" were His titles. The former reminds us that He is man. The latter proclaims His dignity, as apart from, and superior to, every intelligent creature. He is Lord in relation to angels as well as to men (Phil. 2:11). The angels went back into heaven, the shepherds then went to Bethlehem to see the child, after which they spread abroad the announcement of its birth. Their listeners wondered. They themselves glorified and praised God for all that they had heard and seen. Mary kept all those sayings, and pondered them in her heart. Heaven was moved, but earth, how little was it stirred! Elisabeth's kinsfolk rejoiced with her. We read of no such demonstration when Christ was born. Significant that surely was. Men wondered at that which the shepherds told them, but which of them moved a step to see the child? How far was earth out of tune with heaven! How listless were men about that which so interested the angels!